Top-70 G Bishop Boswell Chooses Tennessee

September 28, 2023 by Max Feldman

THE LEAD

Bishop Boswell, a Top 70 prospect in 2024 and one of the top lead guards in the country, has committed to Tennessee. The North Carolina native chose the Vols over Xavier, Wake Forest, Missouri, Georgia and more.

BACKGROUND 

The 6-4 guard from Myers Park (NC) is formerly a two-sport athlete, excelling on the gridiron and the hardwood as a hard-playing, physical playmaker. Prior to his junior campaign, he fully committed to basketball and has been on the rise since. A few high major programs entered the mix last year and prior, but his recruitment began to hit it's stride this spring and summer while playing with Team CP3. SEC, Big East, ACC and Big Ten programs entered the equation, but Rick Barnes and Tennessee crossed the finish line after prioritizing the Charlotte-based guard these past two months.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Vols had been in the mix for a number of guards in this class, now locking down a steady playmaker with a hard-nosed approach. The prime target moving forward looks like IMG wing Chase McCarty, another tough, physical SEC type of athlete. Top-60 F Pharaoh Compton included Tennessee in his final six, but the Vols look to be on the outside looking in with San Diego State and Houston looming. However, they look to be entrenched in the recruitment of a number of high level 2025's, indicating 2024 may just be a two-man class.

MY TAKE

Tennessee, under Barnes, has had a number of prolific guards come through and develop in their stints. None quite in the mold of Boswell, but with a few similar approaches and ruggedness. Shot-making has and will be the key, because while he's among the premier playmakers in the class and has shown the ability to handle primary duties and thrive in the process against elite level competition, drawing closeout will be pivotal as he's relied on his physicality at times, isn't loaded with bend and has room to grow as a handler in traffic (of any prospect in the top 15 in assists in EYBL's regular season, none had the ball stolen more than Boswell). Rebounds, loves to run, defends at a high level, has fantastic vision in the open floor and can really bump defenders off their line getting downhill, but will have key checkpoints to hit developmentally to handle primary duties in the SEC. Promising floor general with two-way appeal.